Machine for forming hats.



No. 843,639. v IPATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

0 W. STEVENS. MACHINE FOR FORMING HATS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23.1905.

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PATENTED FEB. 12

O. W. STEVENS. MACHINE FOR FORMING HATS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT,23,1905.

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No. 843,639. PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

0. w. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOR FORMING HATS. APPLIGATION ItILED SEPT. 23. 1905.

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No. 843,689. PATENTED FEB? 12,1907.

G. W. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOR FORMING HATS. APPLYIOATION FILEUSEPT. 25. 1905.

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CHARLES W. STEVENS, EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR FORMING HATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907. I

Application filed September 23, 1905. Serial No. 279,815.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs WV. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Orange, county of Essex, New Jersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Hats, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to machines for forming hats from semiplasticmaterial, such as dampened felt.

The object of the invention is to construct a machine which is adaptedto employ dies of different shapes for forming hats of different styles.I have also sought to so arrange and construct the parts that the hatwhen formed shall be free from imperfections on the exterior or on anyordinarily visible portion of the interior. For ordinary use it isdesirable that such a machine be operable in a very simple manner inorder to avoid accidents clue to the employment of unskilled labor andin order that the operation may be performed as expeditiously aspossible. The sequence of operation is performed largely automaticallywhen the machine is once started.

The principles of the invention are illus trated in the accompanyingfour sheets of drawings. Briefly, it may be said to comprise a framesupporting a die for shaping the upper surface of the brim, a presscarrying a die for shaping the under surface of the brim, and alsoshapers for pressing the sides of the crown out against a ring whichsurrounds the exterior side walls of the crown. The tip for drawing outthe crown is carried b r the press, and the plate for shaping the top ofthe crown is actuated by the operating mechanism of the press. Suitableconnections are made between the press and the shapers for permittingthe operation of the same to be brought about at the proper time.

Figure 1 is a side view of a machine embodying the improvements of myinvention in position ready for operation. Fig. 2 is a front view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a vertical section and side elevation showing the partsin position with the hat completed and ready to be released. Fig. 4 is afragmentary section of part of the dies in an intermediate step of theoperation with the crown drawn out, but before shaping. Fig. 5 is adetail plan view of intermediate locking mechanism crown-shapers, theparts being in section on the plane of the line X X, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is adetail plan, on a larger scale, of a carryingplate for the other innercrown-shapers. Fig. 7 is a plan view, on the same scale as Fig. 6, ofthe dies removed from the machine. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of thesame on the plane of the line Y Y, showing the hat completed in section.Fig. 9 is a detail plan view, on the same scale as Fig. 7, of the outercrowndies and the inner tip-plate.

1. indicates the frame of the machine, of

suitable construction and arrangement, for

carrying the entire mechanism.

2 indicates the table upon which the work is supported and theoperations performed.

3 is a bed-plate resting upon the table.

4 is a die supported on the bed-plate 3 and having an upper surfaceformed in accordance with any shape which it is desired the brim of thehat shall ultimately have.

5 and 5 are segments of an annular ring, the upper surface of Which isshaped in ac cordance with part If the proper curvature for the brim andhaving its inner wall formed according to the curve desired in the sidewall of the crown. The diameter of the mouth or upper edge of the innerWall is less than the diameter of the bottom. In Jther words, the wallis undercut so as to produce a bell-crown effect of the hat.

6 is a plate shaped in accordance with the top of the crown desired andnormally sustaining the ring-segments 5 5.

7 is a rod having a cap which supports the plate 6. Preferably the rodis formed in two parts, the lower part 7 being screwthreaded into theupper part 7 so that the length of the rod may be adjusted.

8 is a beam which extends across the machine and. is suitably guided inthe frame.

9 is a pivoted yoke connected to the beam Sby links 10 10.

11 11 are powerful springs, which are connected to the under side of thetable 2 and to the yoke 9. They normally hold the yoke and beam in theupper position, the ends of the beam abutting against the stops 12 12 onthe frame. Normally the end of the rod 7 rests on the beam 8.

13 13 are side bars carried by the beam 8 and connected at the top bythe crossbeam 14.

and a carrying-plate for part of the inner l 15 is a frame bolted to thecross-beam 14.

16 is a carrying-plate supported from frame by rods 17 17 and 17 17. Thelatter have projections 18 18, adapted to pass through keyhole-shapedopenings in the locking-plate 18.

19 is a plate located beneath the lockingplate 18 and having passagesfor the rods 17 17 and 1717.

20 is a post secured to the late 19 andhavingat its lower end the tip-pate 21.

22 IS a collar clamped on the rod 7, but which may be adjustedvertically to the position desired.

23 is a lever pivoted in the bed 3.

24 is a sleeve mounted to slide on the rod 7 and loosely connected tothe inner end of the lever 23. Normally the outer end of the lever restson the edge of the table 2.

25 is a foot-lever pivoted in the frame 1 and connected by link 26 tothe shaft 27, which is rotatably mounted in the beam 8.

28 is a cam secured to shaft 27, on which the link 26 is mounted.

29 is a hand-lever secured to shaft 27.

30 is a chain, and 31 is a spring connecting the foot-lever 25 with thelever 23.

The operation of the parts thus far described is as follows: The diesare heated in a suitable manner and the flat dampened or steamed blank32 of proper size is placed across the outer crown, forming segments 55, in the position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1, and then theedges curved or bent down, as shown dotted at 32, and caught on theprongs or pins 34, which project from the lower brim-die 4. The partsbeing then in the position shown in Fig. 1, the foot-lever 25 isdepressed. When the beam 8 begins to descend, the rod 7 and lowercrown-forming plate 6 are allowed to fall, and the dies 5 5 settle intothe lower brim-forming die 4. At the same time the beam 8, bars 13 13,beam 14, frame 15, and plate 16, together with the plate 19, rod 20, andtip-plate 21, are drawn down, the plates 18 and 19 being locked beneaththe projections 18 18 on rods 17 17C The tip-plate as it descends drawsdown the blank into the form shown in Fig. 4. The continued downwardmovement of the lever 25 tightens the chain 30 and brings the lever 23down again under the tension of the spring 31, forcing the lowercrown-plate 6 yieldingly into the position shown in Fig. 4.

35 is a die for shaping the under side of the brim in conjunction withthe die 4. It is supported by rods 36, four in number, which pass freelythrough the frame 15 and have check-nuts 37 screw-threaded on theirupper ends.

38 is a spring, one of which is mounted on each of the rods 36 and abutsat its upper end against the frame 15 and at its lower end against anadjustable collar 39, carried by the rods 36.

After the parts have been brought into the position shown in Fig. 4 thelocking-plate 18 is rotated to release the plate 19, and thus permit thebeam 14 and attached parts to descend further until the brim-forming die35 is brought into action, as shown in Fig. 3.

40 is a plate normally supported by the adjustable nut 41 on the tip-rod20.

42 is a spring which is interposed between the plates 16 and 40.

43 indicates an inner crown-shaping member, of which there are four,pivoted to the brim-die 35, which may best be seen in Fig. 7. These areconnected by links 44 to the carrying-plate 40.

45 indicates another inner crown-shaping member, of which there is aseries of four, pivoted to the brim-die 35 alternately with the shapers43. (See Figs. 7 and8.) The members of the second series are connectedto the carrying-plate 16 by links 46.

The operation of the inner crown-shaping members after the crown hasbeen stretched, as shown in Fig. 4, is as follows: The continueddepression of the lever 25 after the locking-plate 18 has been releasedforces the carrying-plate 16 downward and compresses the spring 42,which forces the carrying-plate 40 downward and throws the shapers 43out against the inner wall of the crown. The continued depression of thelever 25 brings the shapers 45 into position within the crown and forcesthem between the shapers 43 with a wedging action. At this time thelever 25 is moved slightly to the right and caught beneath the shoulders47 47 of the frame. The pressure of the crown-shapers is increased togive the crown its final set by throwing the lever 29 into the positionshown in Fig. 3, when the cam or eccentric 28 .turns in the strap of thelink 26 and brings the beam 8 and upper dies down hard with atoggle-like action. When the pressure has remained on long enough toinsure the proper condition of the hat, the hand-lever 29 is then thrownback and the foot-lever 25 released from the locking-shoulders 47 47.The springs 11 then lift up the beam 8 of the press. The upward movementof the beam 14 and frame 15 lifts the carrying-plate 16 and causes thewithdrawal of the shapers 45, the release of the spring 42, and thewithdrawal of shapers 43 by contact of the nut 41. The brim-die 35 isthen lifted and, lastly, the tipplate 21. Following the withdrawal ofthe tip-plate the beam 8 strikes the lower end of the rod 7 and liftsout the dies 5 and 5 with the completed form, with the parts of themechanism as shown in Fig. 1. The front crown-die 5 is then taken out bya suitable tool, leaving the hat-form free for removal. After the hat isremoved the die 5 is replaced preparatory to the formation of another.

The shape of the surfaces of the dies which come in contact with theblanks may be varied, so as to press a hat of any shape desired. Anyamount of bell may be given to the crown by a proper angle between thepressing-surfaces and shanks of the inner crown-shapers, the outer cownring or die being of course of a shape to correspond. The same machineis adapted to form hats of varying sizes by simply adjusting therelative initial positions of the parts. For instance, the effectivelength of the rods 36 may be adjusted by the nuts 37. The tipplate maybe adjusted up or down relative to the plate 19. The time of throw ofthe shapers 43 maybe varied byadjusting the nut 11. The position of theparts for obtaining the height of crown desired may be varied byadjusting the collar 22 on the rod 7 and ad justing the lower end of thec d 7. The pressure of the springs 38 may be adjusted by collar 39. Thebeam 1 1 may be adjusted up and down on the bars 13 to vnry the heightof the press. The pressure of the lever L3 "ray be adjusted by varyingthe length of the chain 30.

The height of the outer crownring when in its initial position is suchthat when the curved blank 32 is caught over the points 34 sufficientmaterial is provided for the formation of the crown without materiallyaffecting its thickness. So, also, the movement of the tip-plste 21 intothe position shown in Fig. 4 draws down enough material to form the bellof the crown in the next operation without affecting its thickness.

hat I claim is 1. A hat-formin machine, including brimshaping dies, aseparate outer crown-shaping die, two series of movable innercrown-shaping members supported above said dies, and means for bringingone series into operation in advance of the other.

2. In a hat-forming machine, brim-shaping dies, a separate sectionalouter crown.- shapin die, inner crown-shaping members pivotally mountedabove said dies, and afootlever with connections for bringing saidmembers into operation.

3. In a hat-forming machine, two brimshaping dies, an outer crownshapingdie, a tip-plate, controllable means for bringing said tip-plate intooperation to draw the crown, manually controllable means forsubsequently bringing the brim-shaping dies into cooperation, and meansfor adjusting the extent of movement of said tip-plate.

4. In a hat-forming machine, a sectional outer crown-shaping die, aplurality of movable inner crown-shaping members supported above saiddie, a foot-lever and connections therewith for bringing said innercrown -sha p ing members down into operation and retracting the same.

5. In a hat-forming machine, an outer crown-shaping die, a series ofmovable inner crown-shaping members, a tip-plate movableverticallyindependently thereof, and a leveroperable press for bringingsaid tip-plate into operation to draw the crown before said shapingmembers are operated.

6. In. a hat-forming machine, a frame having a table, a brim-shaping diesupported thereon, a press including a brim-shaping die, a tip-plate,means for bringing the tipplate into operation to draw the crown of thehat, and means for releasing the tip-plate and subsequently bringing thepress-die into position.

7. In a machine for forming hats, a sectional outer crown-shaping die,two series of inner crown-shaping members, means for bringing one seriesof said members into op eratien in advance of the other, and meansforproducing a supplemental wedging action after the operation of thesecond series.

8. In a hat-forming machine, a stationary brim-shaping die, a press,means for operating said press, a second brim-shaping die carried bysaid press, an outer crown-shaping die, a forming-plate for the top ofthe crown normally supporting said outer crown-shaping die above saidstationary brim-shaping die, a tip-plate carried by said press, andmeans for automatically depressing the top crown-plate and outercrown-shaping dies in advance of the action of said tip-plate.

9. In a hat-forming machine, a frame, a

. stationary brim-shaping die, a verticallymovable outer crown-shapingdie, a top crown-plate, means for rigidly holding it in its normalposition, means for releasing it, and means for subsequently yieldinglypressing it into operation.

10. In a hat-forming machine, a stationary brim-shaping die, a movablebrim-shaping die, an outer crown-shaping die, a tipplate, innercrown-shaping members, means for bringing said tip-plate into operationto draw the crown of the hat, means for subse quently brin ing saidmovable brim-shaping Elie into operative position, and means forsubsequently bringing said inner crownshaping members into operation.

11. In a hat-forming machine, an outer crown-shaping die, a plurality ofinner'crownshaping members, means for bringing them into operation,locking means therefor, and means for subsequently increasim thepressure of said inner crown-shaping members.

12. In a hat-forming machine, a stationary brim-shaping die, a segmentalouter crown-shaping die adapted to be seated in said brim-shaping die, aplurality of inner crown-shaping members and means for automaticallylifting said outer crown-shaping is completed.

13. In a hat-formin machine, a die for shaping the upper brim-surface,means for holding the edge of the blank, an enter 1 crown-forming ring,means for normally holddie out of said brim-shaping die when the heating it above the brim-die, and means for depressing it simultaneouslywith the drawing out of the crown.

14. In a hat-machine, dies for shaping the brim, an outer bell-crowndie, an inner tipplate, and means for moving said plate a distancesu'llicient to draw out enough of the blank to subsequently form thebell\.vithout material thinning of the stock.

15. In a hat-machine, a plurality of crown forming members arranged intwo series, one series being normally above and free from the other, andmeans for bringing the two series down into a common plane.

16. In a hat-machine, a vertically-mov able support, two series ofcrown-shaping members pivotally carried thereby, two platesverticallymovable with relation to each other, and links connecting saidplates to said shaping members.

17. In a hat-machine, a vertically-movable support, two series ofcrown-shaping members pivotally carried thereby, two plates verticallymovable with relation to each other, a spring operating between saidplates, and links connecting said plates to said shaping members.

18. In a hat-machine, a verticallymov able support, two series ofcrown-shaping members pivotally carried thereby, two plates verticallymovable with relation to each other, links connecting said plates tosaid shaping members, and means for bringing the series connected to oneplate into yielding operation in advance of the other series.

19. In a hat-machine, an upper brim-forming die, two series ofcrown-forming members mounted above said die, and means for bringing thebrim-forming die, one series of crownforming members and then the otherseries of crown-forming members down into opera tion successively.

20. In a hat-machine, a brim-forming die, two series of crown-formingmembe s, a tipplate, and means for bringing the tip-plate, thebrim-forming die, one series of crownforming members and then the otherseries of crown-forming members into operation successively.

21. In a hat-machine, a lower brim'form ing (lie, an outer crown-formingdie, a plate for normally sustaining the crown-forming die, an upperbrim-forming die, a tip-plate, and means for simultaneously lowering thesustaining-plate and the tip-plate in advance of the upper brim-formingdie.

22. In a hat-machine, a lower brimi'orming die, an outer crown-formingdie, a plate for normally sustaining the crown-forming die, an upperbrim-forming die, a tip-plate, means for simultaneously lowering thesustaining-plate and the tip-plate in advance of the upper brim-formingsaaese raising the tipp]ate a short distance while the upperbrim-ferming die is in operation.

23. In a hat-machine, a brim-forming die, two series of crown-formingmembers, a movable press carrying said die and members, means forbringing said die and members sucessively into operation, and means forgiving a final. supplemental action to said crownforming members.

24:. In a hatmachine, a press, a brimforming die yieldingly supportedthereby, two series of crown-forming members, and means carried by saidpress for bringing one of said series of members into operationyieldingly in advance of the other series.

25. In a hat-machine, a press, a brimforming die yieldingly supportedthereby, a

ti )late two series of crown-formin memhere, and means carried by saidpress for bringing said tip-plate into operation and then bringing oneof saidseries of members into operation yieldingly in advance of theother series.

26. A hat-machine, including tw series of crown-forming members, asupport therefor,

two operating-plates, means of connection between said plates and saidmembers, and a spring between said plates.

27. A hat-machine, including a series of crown-forming members, anoperating-plate connected to said members, a press, and yielding meansof connection between said press and said plate.

28. A hat-machine, including a press, crowlrshaping members operablethereby, a lever for operating said press, a lower crownplate, and ayielding connection between said plate and said press-lever.

29. In a hatanachlne, a segmental outer crown-forming die and eightinner crownforming members arranged in two series, the members of oneseries being substantially wider at the bottom than at the top andalternating with the members of the other se ries, the members of whichare substantially wider at the top than at the bottom, and means forbringing the members of the two series into operation with the membersof one series forcibly wedged in between the members of the otherseries.

80. In a hat-machine, an "outer crownforming die having anentrance-opening smaller at the top than at the bottom, two series ofinner crown-forming members piv otally mounted above said outercrownforming die, and means for moving said inner crown-forming membersdown and wedging them out insifo the outer crown-forming die.

31. In a shaping-machine, two annular members, one of said members beingdivided into two series of independently-movable parts, twovertically-movable plates, one of said series of parts being connectedto one die, and means for 1 plate and the other series of partsconnected to the other plate, and means for moving said plates relativeto each other for bringing the two series of parts into operationsuccessively.

32. In a shaping-machine, a tip-plate, an annular shaping member dividedinto two series of relatively movable parts, one series being normallyelevated above the other series, and means for successively bringing thetipplate and the two series of parts into operation upon a blank.

33. In a shaping-machine, a lower annular die member having an uppershaping-surface, a segmental die member supported therein and havinginner and upper shaping-surfaces, an upper die member having a lowershaping-surface, a plurality of relatively movable inner shapingmembers, and means for bringing said upper die member and said innershaping members into operation successively.

84. In a shapinganachine, a lower die member having an uppershaping-surface, a

segmental die member having inner and upper shaping-surfaces, atip-plate, an upper die member having a lower shapmg-suriace,

a plurality of inner shaping members, and i means for successivelybringing into operation the tip-plate, the upper die and the innershaping members.

35. In a shaping-machine, a lower die having an upper shaping-surface, asegmental die having an upper shaping-surface and an innershaping-surface, an upper die having a lower shaping-surface, aplurality of inner shaping members, a vertically-movable presssupporting said upper die and said inner shaping members, and means foroperating said members to bring said upper die into operation in advanceof said inner shaping members.

36. In a shaping-machine, a lower segmental die having an opening withan undercut shaping-surface and havin an upper shaping-surface, avertically-movable upper die having an opening, a vertical post, twoplates movable thereon relative to each other, and a plurality of innershaping members connected to said plates.

37. In a shaping-machine, a segmental die' having an innershaping-surface, a post, a tip-plate carried by the end thereof, and aplurality of inner shaping members vertically movable relative to saidpost and said tip-plate.

38. In a shaping-machine, a die having an undercut innershaping-surface, a post, a tipplate carried thereby, an innershaping-die divided into two series of relatively movable parts, one ofsaid series being normally 40. In a shaping-machine, a die having an Iundercut inner shaping-surface, a relatively movable bottom plate havingan upper shaping-surface, a plurality of relatively movable innershaping members, a tip-plate, and means for bringing said tip-plate intooperation in advance of said inner shaping members.

41. In a shaping-machine, a lower die having an upper shaping-surface, arelatively movable annular die adapted to be seated therein and havinginner and upper shapingsurfaces, a plurality of inner shaping members,and means for lowering said annular die in advance of the operation ofsaid inner shaping members.

42. In a shapingmachine, a lower die having an upper shaping-surface, arelatively movable annular die adapted to be seated therein and havinginner and upper shapingsurfaces, a plurality of inner shaping members,means for lowering said annular die in advance of theoperation of saidinner shaping members, and means for retracting said inner shapingdiesin advance of the upward movement of said annular die.

43. In a shaping-machine, a die having an undercut shaping-surface, twoverticallymovable plates, a plurality of inner shaping members arrangedin two series, the members of one series being connected to one plateand being substantially wider at the bottom than at the top, and themembers of the other series being connected to the other plate and beingsubstantially wider at the top than at the bottom.

44. A shapingmachine including a plurality of relatively movable shapingmembers, a lever-operable press for bringing all of said memberstogether into annular arrangement and lever-operable means for giving asupplemental wedging action to said members.

45. A shaping-machine including a plurality of relatively movableshaping members forming a complete annular die, and a tipplateadjustable and movable independently of all of said members.

CHARLES W. STEVENS.

Witnesses:

L. VREELAND, RoBT. S. ALLYN.

